World

'Maldives what?': Saudi fashionistas attempt beach rebrand

Saudi designer Tima Abid got her start at a time when fashion shows were taboo and tourism, apart from religious pilgrimages, was almost nonexistent in the Gulf kingdom. Taking in preparations for Abid's show, Saudi designer Alanoud Badr of Lady Fozaza compared the kingdom favourably to a more established island locale.

'Hush vacations' trend as remote workers slip off for travel getaways without telling the boss

Today, as more workers are remote, some are slipping in "hush vacations" during work days without officially taking paid time off. Here's what to know about the trend, with expert input.

The Grande Dames of country music

The risky allure of WiFi Money: private jets, sports cars, and ruined investors

A motley crew of Instagram-obsessed, hustle-culture influencers made millions. In their wake, they left a trail of lawsuits and financial devastation.

Vatican tightens Church rules for probing the ‘supernatural’

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican sharpened its rules for investigating supernatural events such as visions of Christ or the Virgin Mary, acknowledging on Friday that overactive imaginations and outright “lying” risked harming the faithful. The new norms allow for a more “prudent” interpretation of events that generally avoids declaring them outright a supernatural event. They were published by the Holy See’s powerful Dicastery for the Doctrine of the...

15 Tips for You to Surf Through Thailand’s Songkran Festival

Thailand, known for its beautiful beaches, delicious food, rich culture, and friendly people, has one festivity that draws tourists from all over the world—Songkran. Also known as Thai New Year, it is the country’s most vibrant and energetic festival, celebrated annually from April 13 to 15. It is a festival mixed with tradition, merrymaking, and

Cruise stomach bug issue not new, passengers say

People who travelled on previous Ventura cruises say the company is "downplaying" the situation.

PAL sets sights on India flights

MANILA, Philippines — Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is exploring the possibility of launching direct flights to India to capture the emerging demand for connections to South Asia. PAL president and chief operating officer Stanley Ng told reporters the airline is considering to mount Manila flights to India as soon as it gets out of the supply crunch that it is dealing with. The carrier aims to snare the Philippine demand for South Asian...

California's new 'Honest Pricing Law' will require cruise lines to be transparent about fees

California's "Honest Pricing Law" makes it illegal to advertise prices for goods or services that don't include all the required fees or charges.

A Comprehensive Guide to the UnionBank Miles+ Program

Get the most out of your cards.

Jeff Bezos' 3 private jets are worth $140 million and include 2 Gulfstream G650ERs alongside a hangar in Seattle

Jeff Bezos owns a hangar and three private jets worth over $100 million. The smallest is registered to a firm specializing in privacy enhancement.

Palace declares special holidays

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has declared May 21 a special non-working day in Malabon City for the commemoration of its 425th founding anniversary. It also declared May 30 a special non-working day in Escalante City, Negros Occidental for the celebration of the Manlambus Festival. The declaration of special holidays in the cities of Malabon and Escalante were specified in Proclamations 548 and 549, both signed by Executive Secretary Lucas...

Airbnb hosts are bracing for an unpredictable summer

To beat the competition, short-term-rental owners are turning to direct bookings and influencer stays to lure guests and make money off summer travel.

Come Holy Spirit

In our recent pilgrimage, we had an octogenarian pilgrim who was hard of walking. Often he would be left behind, or would not go down the bus, and missed a lot of activities. I bought him a simple cane. At first, he was reluctant to use it, but soon, he tried it, and he liked it! And we all liked it, too, because we saw him happy and strong, joining us in our activities, smiling at everyone as we went along. A Pentecost moment! —————- Happy...

Marcos: Better transport, infra mean more tourists

Boasting that “there is no place in the Philippines that is not beautiful,” President Marcos on Friday said he was eyeing a tenfold increase in the number of “balikbayan” tourists visiting the country. At the inauguration of a tourist rest area on the pristine beach at Barangay Saud in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, the President said the government would continue improving travel, transportation and tourist infrastructure to turn the country into...

Businesses demand water company 'bear full cost' of Brixham poisoning

Seaside B&Bs and self-catering cottages in the south Devon town are facing a wave of cancellations from holidaymakers fearful of exposing their families to the parasite.

Luxent Hotel says farewell to summer with staycation deals

SUMMER may be winding down, but the deals at Luxent Hotel are just heating up. Don't miss the chance to experience luxurious comfort and exciting amenities before the season ends. For a limited time only, book a stay and make the most of the perks. Start the day with an International Buffet breakfast for two and savor delectable dishes at all Luxent Hotel's dining outlets with a special 10-percent discount. Take a dip and soak up the city views...

Russia just discovered the world’s largest oil reserve

Spitfire Women: Blue plaque unveiled for WW2 pilot

Freydis Sharland was also British Air Racing Champion and a trailblazer for women in aviation.

What is There to Do in Switzerland?

This might just be your sign to go ahead and finally tick one of the world’s most beautiful countries off your travel bucket list.

American town torn apart in 400-year dispute over historic landmark

A 400-year-old dam in Ipswich, Massachusetts is causing a stir in a small town with a long history.

Russia showcases food products in Harbin

HARBIN, China – The rich aroma of coffee brought visitors to a corner of the eighth China-Russia Expo exhibition area in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, where Russian cream cakes are on display in the cake bar of the Alyonka Cafe. "It is the first cafe that we opened on China's mainland, where consumers are already familiar with the Alyonka chocolate brand," said Evgeny Bazhov, general manager of United Confectionery (Uniconf) China...

9 Best backpacks for your summer 2024 travels, festivals and for days out with friends

With festivals and holidays on the horizon, backpacks are the perfect hands-free item to help keep your belongings safe - here are some of our favourites on the high street currently...

What life is like in the world’s happiest country, from a 28-year-old who left the U.S. for Finland

Entrepreneur, content creator and U.S. expat Jade Ventoniemi shares why she loves living in Finland, the world's happiest country.

Redemption of the Macabebes

MACABEBE, PAMPANGA, Philippines — When the ancestors of this coastal town are bluntly tagged “traitors” or subtly branded as “dugong-aso” (loyal to a fault) for choosing to side with colonial rulers, or blamed for the capture of President Emilio Aguinaldo and fall of the First Philippine Republic, Vice Mayor Vince Flores takes time to explain the “unjust labeling.” So when the National Historical Commission of the Philippines recently installed...

Burnouts and boggings: the idyllic Queensland island ‘hammered’ by four-wheel-drives

Jacqui Fitzgerald bought her home in the seaside village of Woorim two years ago, seeking a peaceful lifestyle. She soon discovered it would be anything but. Fitzgerald is on the frontline of Bribie Island’s rapid growth in tourism. Her home borders the entrance to the national park and four-wheel drive beach on the southern tip of the island just north of Brisbane. Cameras outside her home have captured some of the dangerous behaviour over the...

IndiGo to Vistara: Why airlines continue to face challenges

While new airports are coming up fast and passenger traffic is scaling all-time high levels, flight cancellations and delays continue to affect travellers…

Sam Verzosa, Miss Universe PH, Aqua Boracay hold medical mission for Ati community

Despite the vibrant tourism and economic growth on Boracay Island, the Ati community, the original nurturers of the land, often find themselves overlooked. In the episode of Dear SV, hosted by Sam “SV” Verzosa, the spotlight was turned on the challenges facing the Ati community, and the efforts being made to uplift them. Sister Elvie Oliamot, a dedicated missionary from Cebu, has been caring for the Ati community for nearly five years. Nestled...

The most dangerous (and the safest) countries for female travelers

In an attempt to determine which countries are the most dangerous for female travelers, husband and wife journalists Asher and Lyric Fergusson studied and ranked the 50 most popular countries amongst tourists. The data was compiled using sources ranging from the 2018 Gallup World Poll to Equal Measures 2030's Gender Advocates Data Hub. The Fergusson's Women’s Danger Index ranked each country based on eight factors: street safety for women, intentional homicide of women, non-partner sexual violence, intimate partner sexual violence, legal discrimination, global gender gap, gender inequality index, and violence against women attitudes. Using these metrics, their list of the 20 most dangerous countries for women emerges. Intrigued? Take a look at their findings by clicking through the following gallery.

Dead Olive Ridley sea turtle found in Quezon

LUCENA CITY — An Olive Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), locally known as “pawikan,” was found dead along the coast of Tayabas Bay in Agdangan, Quezon on Friday, May 17. “The marine turtle had wounds around the neck area, signs of another victim of stationary fish traps sunk into the bottom of the bay,” Jay Lim, project officer of Tanggol Kalikasan (TK), a public interest law office that advocates environmental protection, posted on his...

The greatest discoveries and advancements in the history of astronomy

For as long as humans have walked the Earth, the great endless sky and the countless stars that fill it have left us in a state of awe-inspired wonderment. Similarly, the study and exploration of space have been a priority for humankind for millennia. From the ancient Assyrians and Greeks, to the greatest minds of the Renaissance, and up to the billionaire space explorers of the 21st century, incredible amounts of time and effort have gone into better understanding our celestial surroundings. And yet, despite all of the great strides that have been made to understand the great beyond, it's estimated that 95% of the universe is still undiscovered. Click through the gallery to learn about some of the greatest discoveries of astronomy and our universe.

Two Tickets to Greece review – a holiday you may want to cut short

The closest of schoolfriends in 1989, despite their wildly contrasting personalities, risk-averse introvert Blandine (Olivia Côte) and gobby showoff Magalie (Laure Calamy) fell out spectacularly (full details are hazy, but it involved a boy) and lost touch. Now, thanks to the adult son of Blandine, who worries that his divorced mother is in danger of closing herself off from the world, the pair are reunited and find themselves embarking on the...

Your pictures on the theme of 'tunnels'

A selection of striking images from our readers around the world.

Eerie video shows once thriving tourist island completely deserted

Footage of Magnetic Island, 20 minutes from Townsville, revealed a distinct lack of tourists despite the April-May window usually being popular with those seeking warmth.

This sweet family legacy is now 29 years old

Spotted in cities across Nueva Ecija and Pampanga, Edna's Cakeland is a sweet spot, a place where the smell freshly baked bread and the sight of beautifully decorated cakes evoke a sense of warmth and nostalgia. Edna’s Cakeland CEO Anna Gonzales (rightmost) opens the bakery’s newest branch together with her partner Justin Cuyugan and her parents and Edna’s Cakeland founders Edna and Herminio Gonzales (center). The family-owned bakery is...

Crowds turn out for Peterborough Celebrates festival

Organisers and visitors hail the two-day Peterborough Celebrates a success.

Virgin Trains targets West Coast in return to rail

Virgin Group has applied for a licence to run trains on the route it lost to Avanti in 2019.

Two historic Solent forts turned boutique retreats with a nightclub and helipad for sale at £1 million each

Two historic Solent forts turned boutique retreats with a nightclub and helipad for sale at £1 million each - Once a part of Portsmouths sea defences, these forts now have a laser battle space and a wine cave

Incredible places from Greek mythology you can visit today

There are plenty of places you can go to find beautiful beaches, party islands, mouthwatering cuisine, and sunny skies. But very few of them combine all these things with mesmerizing remnants of the ancient world and mythology. Dipped in ancient history, Greece is one of the very few countries that combine all of these with a dream destination for anyone interested in mythology. Click on for a selection of real locations that were center stage for many famous Greek myths.

I Switched to Using eSIMs for Roaming When I Travel. You Should, Too

Traveling overseas this summer? You're going to want to read this first.

How wild swimming puts you at risk of a raft of waterborne diseases

It sounded like good news for wild swimmers. Last week, 27 new river bathing sites were added to the map of the UK's coastal and inland waterways deemed safe for use.

Gorgeous Oregon coast hotel with no TVs or WiFi that encourages guests to read its enormous selection of books and enjoy ocean views is sold to new owners who hint they'll modernize it

The Sylvia Beach Hotel in Newport captured local attention thanks to its picturesque Pacific Ocean views and literary theme - which extended to a total ban on TVs and Wi-Fi.

Disneyland Character Workers Vote to Unionize With Actors' Equity

Another union is coming to Disneyland. On Saturday, a majority of the amusement park’s character workers voted to unionize with Actors’ Equity Association in a National Labor Relations Board vote, ushering more employees at Disneyland into the union fold. Nine hundred and fifty-three workers voted “yes” to join Equity, while 258 voted “no.” The parties […]

Castle tearoom to reopen after nearly two years

The council admitted the search for new operators had not been 'as quick as we would have liked'.

Swiss village bids to introduce Venice-style entry fee for tourists

Lauterbrunnen in the Bernese Oberland has seen a surge in tourism in the warmer months, with some visitors only staying for a day and contributing little to the economy.

Your dream beach vacation can happen right at home in America

Can’t go abroad this year? Don't sweat it. The US has some awesome beaches for you to kick back and relax on that are closer to home. Check them out!

Heading north? Here are 5 food places to visit when in La Union

Going on a trip to La Union soon? Aside from its well-loved tourist attractions, the province is also home to a variety of must-try restaurants. From refreshing drinks to fulfilling meals, here are some food places you should check out. —JCB, GMA Integrated News This article Heading north? Here are 5 food places to visit when in La Union was originally published in GMA News Online.

The world's top places to visit in 2024

The holiday season brings with it thoughts of travel, a Christmas vacation perhaps, or somewhere memorable to chime in the New Year. But where in the world are the coolest, hotly-tipped places to visit in 2024? Click through and check out these top destinations, referenced by Travel + Leisure as the most popular places to go in 2024.

Mountain song: PHL Pavilion brings the aura of Banahaw to the Biennale

VENICE, Italy — Well, I stand up next to a mountain… Contemporary art often does not reveal itself on first meeting, much like an enigmatic lover. Usually, a conceptual piece or space is felt first before it is even understood. If you go around the Philippine Pavilion’s current exhibition titled “Sa kabila ng tabing lamang sa panahong ito/Waiting just behind the curtain of this age” (curated by Carlos Quijon Jr., featuring artworks by Mark...

The greatest retirement locations in the world

After so many years of working hard, retirement can sneak up on you quickly, so why not start planning for your golden years now? Choosing the ideal place to retire is an incredibly important decision and requires a lot of planning and research, but luckily the International Living magazine has published a list of the best destinations to relax into the better half of life. From modern cities to idyllic coastlines, check out this gallery to see the best options out there.